10/09/2026
Can your frown actually affect your mood? đ§
A 2022 review by Wollmer and colleagues looked at the research on tox for depression and found that several randomized, placebo-controlled trials and meta-analyses point the same way. Treating the frown lines between the brows was linked to meaningful improvement in depressive symptoms. In the first of those trials, a single treatment led to improvement that was quick, strong, and lasting, in patients whose depression hadnât fully responded to medication.
The researchers explain it through emotional proprioception: your face doesnât just express how you feel, it also sends feedback to your brain. When you soften the muscles behind a constant scowl, you may interrupt part of that negative loop.
To be clear, this isnât an approved treatment for depression, and it doesnât replace therapy, medication, or your care team. But itâs a fascinating look at how closely the face and mind are connected. đ¤